The 35-year-old smacked a boundary off the first ball of the last over to secure a long overdue and morale-boosting four-wicket win against Wellington in a one-day match watched by a crowd of 750 at Molyneux Park yesterday.
In temperatures topping 30degC, the experienced campaigner managed to keep his cool, despite his side slumping to 45 for five in reply to Wellington's competitive total of 232.
He might have brought up 100, too, had Derek de Boorder not smoked a huge six from the previous delivery. Instead, Cumming had to settle for 94 and the satisfaction of having helped his side fight back from a dire spot.
All looked lost but Cumming was joined at the wicket by much-improved batsman Ian Butler (46) and the pair put on an 86-run stand for the sixth wicket.
When Butler holed out on 46, Cumming found a valuable ally in de Boorder, who has been in good touch this season and played another fine knock. His undefeated 55 was an innings of real class.
He also invented a new shot - the charging ramp. Do not ask how but he found a way to play a ramp shot after taking several brisk strides up the wicket. Bowler Mark Gillespie was far from impressed with the batman's innovation.
But the day belonged to Cumming.
"It was very satisfying," he said.
"I probably have not done a lot this year, to be honest. But the reason you play the game is to help your side win matches.
"While we were in deep trouble, the reality is you still need some support at the other end and I though Butts [Butler] was superb and then Derek de Boorder did well after that."
It was Otago's first win in more than a month, after the Volts' forgettable HRV Cup campaign, and Cumming said it was a welcome relief.
Earlier, Michael Bracewell certainly did not look overawed in his debut.
The 19-year-old left-hander took up the challenge, pulling a short delivery from Gillespie to the midwicket boundary for six.
The ball whistled off the bat and over the ropes, flat like a golf shot.
The demoralised bowler turned his back and trudged back to his mark under no doubt who had won that duel.
Bracewell's bold swat was the only flaw in what was a decent opening spell from former international Gillespie. He took one for 14 from five overs, removing danger man Aaron Redmond for nought.
It was not to be Bracewell's day, though. He was bowled by DeWayne Bowden on 15, leaving his side struggling at 30 for two.
In an impressive eight-over spell, Bowden struck again, capturing Neil Broom's wicket. He got a little lucky, with Broom losing his poise, charging the bowler and pulling the ball straight to Harry Boam on the midwicket boundary.
It was a poor shot from one of the senior members of the squad. But that moment of madness paled in comparison to Nathan McCullum's impetuous decision to charge the first delivery he faced.
Wellington spinner Luke Woodcock darted the ball in quick and flat, defeating the batsman. Wicketkeeper Joe Austin-Smellie completed the dismissal, whipping the bails off.
With their side five down and spiralling towards a heavy defeat, Cumming and Butler went about rebuilding the innings.
Butler was the aggressor, scoring 46 valuable runs from 63 deliveries. He also had the satisfaction of smashing Grant Elliott for a colossal six which broke a window of the Molyneux Park pavilion.
Wellington also had its hiccups with the bat. The visitor lost two quick wickets but staged a recovery through Elliott (41) and James Franklin (40).
Boam (47) and Bowden (28) helped Wellington plunder 107 runs from the last 10 overs to give their bowlers a target to defend.
Nick Beard was the pick of the Otago bowlers with two for 26 from 10 overs. He worked well in tandem with McCullum, and strike bowler Neil Wagner picked up three wickets in his second spell to finish with four for 43.
